In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man named Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. And the angel came to her and said, “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you.” But she was deeply troubled by this statement, wondering what kind of greeting this could be. Then the angel told her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Now listen: You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of his father David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and his kingdom will have no end.”
Mary asked the angel, “How can this be, since I have not had sexual relations with a man?”
The angel replied to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore, the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. And consider your relative Elizabeth—even she has conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called childless. For nothing will be impossible with God.”
“See, I am the Lord’s servant,” said Mary. “May it happen to me as you have said.” Then the angel left her. Luke 1:26-38 (CSB)
************
God's plan of redemption is beginning. God's ways are always to involve his people in his work. God will not enter his creation as a fully grown adult man, but as a helpless baby. He finds a woman to be his earthly mother, a humble woman who is full of faith and willing to partner with God in his plan regardless of the shame and suffering that may result. Mary, a young virgin engaged to Joseph, is willing to accept her part in God's plan. She has no way of knowing how a peasant girl could give birth to an eternal king, but she is willing to trust God.
God asked Mary to commit to something that she could not begin to understand. God wasn't looking for someone who could understand, he was looking for someone who was willing to trust in him. Her response to God's invitation was to trust and obey. Because of this, she lived an amazing life and played an important role in God's salvation plan.
This Christmas and all through the year, let's remember that God calls us to be obedient to his will even when it doesn't make sense to us or may involve hardship or redirecting our lives. The glory that God can produce through us when we are willing vessels for his service is beyond our imagination. God wants us to trust him in all that he is doing and all that he asks us to do. How can we be servants who are listening for his voice, ready to trust and obey?
************
Holy God, you are the omniscient, omnipotent God whose inscrutable ways I extol. I thank you for including me in your plans for your kingdom even though I don't always understand. Please help me to hear your voice during this hectic holiday season; help me to trust and obey whatever I hear from you. All glory to you, now and forever! Amen
************
Scripture quotations marked CSB have been taken from the Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible® and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.
Comments